Thursday, March 29, 2012

Once again I am late! Seems to be the norm for me these days, funny thing I used to be so punctual - not sure where that went to.... ? :-\

So my post today is both February and March and an additional picture of how the piece is coming along. Still working on the polka dot theme...

February merges into March with "I"

Starting to take shape all rolled out - A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J

I've started looking into the finishing of the piece, this one's a bit more technical and I believe it's going to take a little more time to nut out what I'll be needing in turns of the final touches and from whom. I want to create a light box effect like they appear in these photo's, hopefully it'll work out - things always sound great in 'theory'

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Have caught up with the rest of the field and can relax. These letters are chugging along and I'm looking forward to mounting them. Grandma would be proud to think that I was recycling some of her stuff, but she would't recognise what I'm doing with it. Happy Easter to ALAW'ers.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Here are the next letters, better late than never. I did not have enough of my marbled paper to complete all letters so decided to introduce a plain harmonising colour that will complement each page when I assemble the final alphabet.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Here are my next four letters - I, J, K, and L - and I am still pleased to be on track.

The four of them together on block mat board.

I and J - I think I got my piercings a bit close together on the I; with one hole a little bit big as well, so I may need to re-do this letter at some point.

K and L seem to do OK.

And this is the tool I have been using to pierce with. I bought it in Japan at a hardware store (may I just digress and say that a Japanese hardware store is to do die for!) and it is super sharp and strong; and has a great grip. If I ever go back, I expect several more of these will be in my bags on the way home. Note to self - not in my carry-on luggage!

I started a new piercing mat as well when I started these letters - so this is it so far.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Thank you to all of you who commented on my first blog effort. I was just sitting here looking over some of the recent posts when I noticed (not sure how I missed this the first time) the parameters for our alphabets ..... 7cm squares! Didn't see that so am going to have to re do my letters ...... Some may reduce but I am not sure that many will. Just when I had caught up and was about to submit my second post.

Watch this space and I will come back with trimmed or re done letters. Think I will be dotty by the end of this particular alphabet!

Moooving Forward, as they say. I forgot to put the drawing pins from the chests (still in their original packaging and surprisingly still shiny) on the first lot of letters. The pins will anchor them onto the support for the finished project. Am loving everyone else's creations....isn't it a great way to spend creative time!! Heather

Thursday, March 22, 2012

This is my first blog to this site and as such I am a little apprehensive about what I am doing. I have begun my own blog too and am just beginning to get the hang of it. (trace-marks.blogspot.com.au)

I have joined this project and have been looking back over the last couple of years of blogging - loving all the creative alphabets I have seen, coveting many of the ideas and envious of those with obvious calligraphy talent! As you will see from my alphabet (I have begun with the spotty one), I have no calligraphic talent though I absolutely have a deep love of language and its place in our artwork.

For some years in my art practice as a painter and etcher and over the last dozen years an artist's bookmaker, I have used the theme 'The Art of Language' - using ideas such as interpretations and reinterpretations, the concept of telling and retelling stories in various ways by leaving some of my books unbound. I even use language in my artwork though it is by no means recognisable as such ....... scribble would be more accurate.

I am attaching a couple of images rather than an image of each letter alphabetically. Over the course of the year I am certain I will enjoy this project more and more - not just delighting in it as a voyeur but with practice, enjoying it as a participant.

As you can see, there is little coherent in my letters other than the dots ....... well, thank goodness for them. I will try to make my next alphabet more cohesive ..........

Thursday, March 15, 2012

I'm into catch up for 2012. Have just had access to 8 tea chests sealed in 1962 and unopened since, from my grandmother's house. Apart from the hilarious newspapers and remembered childhood bits and pieces, this material (linen) and a variety of plastic beads caught my eye so I used them for my dotty alphabet. The letters are painted in gold on the linen and gel pens used to trace the circles. I sewed the beads onto the linen and mounted them on mount- board scraps after fringing. Heather Courtis

About A Letter a Week 2012

Welcome to A Letter a Week 2012, a project that began in 2010 and is primarily about having fun, experimenting and having a regular, small project to focus on each week.

The aim is simply to:

Write/create a letter a week

Creating 52 letters

Which must form 2 x alphabets (that is not 52 x the letter ‘A’)

By the end of 2012

The main rule is that the letter must be presented on a piece of material measuring 7cm x 7cm

– this helps keep a sense of uniformity amongst the pieces which helps with exhibition coherence.

The other criterion for 2012 is that ONE alphabet has to meet the criteria of "Going dotty – polka dots and pixels”

- that means the alphabet uses dots or circles in some form, but is still presented on the square. It could mean dotted letters, dotted backgrounds, pixelated letters, nail heads into timber or letters within circles or…your imagination can have fun going dotty.

Each alphabet must be turned into a final piece which could be used for possible publication or exhibition.

- that is, you must put all the letters together into a final piece of art.